Workflow information in Panels
I searched for this kind of features, but haven't found any suitable solutions. There is need to display workflow state information and instructions at node page. Ofcourse, there is wonderful Rules module, and I could use it's "show system message" action. Hovewer I find using Rules with Panels is too embarassing: event "content is going to be viewed" is not fired at all, and "user is going to view page" has too few things to work with. To use Rules for this, one would have to use too many PHP, which I think is killing the purpose of Rules
I have idea to make Workflow Pane module, which will serve as CTools content type. It could get node context and provide some workflow-related content in a pane.
What I need is to provide user with some instructions, what is the workflow state of the node and what he needs to do about it. But I see this could evolve into something bigger, for example Workflow Pane could provide some ui to change states or something like that.
What do you think about it ? Thoughts, warnings etc - all welcome.
Isn't it already implemented somewhere, so I don't waste my time reinventing wheel ?
Is there better way to make Panels and Workflow cooperate ? I had some crazy ideas like Rules event "Panel page is going to be viewed" but that seemed to me like too complicated stuff to deal with.
I'm currently looking for a
I'm currently looking for a quite similar pane - maybe this (quite jung) module http://drupal.org/project/total_control is already providing the functionality; I'll need to downgrade it first because it's only available for D6 and I need it in a D5 instance
I'm looking forward to read sth about your experience with that module...
Some news
I made Workflow Panes module, however I haven't released it yet: I'm not sure if the approach I took is right. Here is what that module does.
Workflow Panes consists of 2 parts:
This UI has small problem that it only allows to select numeric nids, so it's not handy if you don't have list of nids ready. This could be fixed with implementing some node finder widget, like from Finder project. Another approach could be to insert relationship selection into node edit form. I'm not sure which is better: I implemented central UI cause I like to manage things from one place.
I'm quite interested about your thoughts on this.
Using workflow to move panel panes?
Could your module be used to change the position of the panel panes, based on some criteria?
No. At the moment it only
No. At the moment it only provides relationships. However, one could make CTools layout plugin that changes layout depending on relationship.
@d0ublej0: I'll investigate
@d0ublej0: I'll investigate Total Control module, but at first glance it seems more like admin tool. I hope it provides Workflow operations Pane that's usable by ordinary users and is available outside of total control panel.
I think this sounds pretty
I think this sounds pretty cool, crea. You're right, Total Control is probably not what you want.
I'm going to release it. I'm
I'm going to release it. I'm not sure if I will be able to support it, but maybe there will be some people who will co-maintain it.
Workflow Panes seems like not proper name. How about "Workflow Nodes", or "Workflow Relationships". Actually second name would be better cause this module could be expanded to store and provide any kind of "workflow -> (?)" relationship.
Check it out: Workflow
Check it out: Workflow Relationships